September 6th: 10:00 - 4:00
Kershaw Park, Canandaigua, New York

Welcome to the Fingerlakes Pagan Pride 2008 website. This is the main source for news and information regarding the Fingerlakes Pagan Pride Day 2008 event. This Pagan Pride event is held along with many others all around the world. Our aim is to raise awareness of Paganism and dispel misinformation regarding Paganism. We endeavor to bring together the Fingerlakes community to celebrate and learn about Paganism.

Pagan and non-Pagans are welcome to come together as a community and share the Pagan experience. We also aim to provide support for the community through a food drive to support those in need.

Fingerlakes Pagan Pride represents Neo-Paganism, Wicca, Witchcraft and other Ancient pre-Christian religions. Pagans and Neo-Pagans do not worship or recognize the concept of Satan, the Devil, or an all evil being that is found in the Judeo-Christian traditions. These views will not be represented in any manner, fashion, or form at the Fingerlakes Pagan Pride Festival or fundraisers.

"One of the joys of Witchcraft, as practiced in these modern times, is its flexibility. It is structured but not pedantic in its rituals and hierarchy. The large number of different denominations, or "traditions", of Witchcraft allow a wide variety of people to find that which is exactly right for them, as individuals. Each tradition of the religion follows the same basic tenets, with celebrations of the seasons through the year. All worship the same male and female deities (although some may emphasize certain ones over others), albeit under a variety of names."

"Yet this very "looseness" could be become detrimental to what is seen as a phenomenal growth of the religion of Witchcraft. In the 1950s, 1960s and the early 1970s, a certain discipline emphasized the Craft as a religion. Indeed, the efforts of many of us had gone into establishing just that point – that Witchcraft is a religion. But in recent years, the emphasis for many newcomers has shifted from worship to spells and magic. In fact, it is not necessary to be a Witch in order to do, or attempt to do, magic. A magician does magic and works without necessarily including worship in his or her rituals."

"The very looseness of the religion and its acceptance of a wide variety of ways have led to anything and everything being labeled "Witchcraft" simply because all guidelines have been traversed. With a fewer number of traditions, it was possible to say what was and what was not acceptable as Wicca. Now, with so many eclectic groups insisting that they can include virtually anything, there are fewer standards. But, happily, these dilettantes appear to be in the minority. I am sure there will always be a hard core of true traditionalists who will keep Wicca alive. As a Wiccan I am a "traditionalist," holding the older values of religion first with the working of magic only if needed. I believe we have probably passed the stage of Wicca being purely a mystery religion. What might be termed "Pop Wicca" obviously has a place, at present. Whether it will last, and what its long-term effect will be, remains to be seen."

Raymond Buckland, The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganism

"Satan is the English transliteration of the Hebrew _Ha-satan_, meaning "adversary. " Originally this was not an all-evil entity , simply an opponent. (The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew, for the New Testament, was _Satanas_.) The idea of dividing the Supreme Power into two –good and evil- is not ancient, but the idea of a complex and advanced civilization."

"Early followers of the Old Religion were little interested in the Christian ideas and held to their beliefs of a large number of deities who had both good and bad moods. There was never any thought of evil personified."

"Satanism then, was a product of Christianity; it was not a part of the pre-Christian teachings. Since the Old Religion predated Christianity, Pagans [do] not even believe in the Devil, let alone worship him."

Raymond Buckland, The Witch Book: The Encyclopedia of Witchcraft, Wicca, and Neo-Paganism

As described in this brochure found on the official Pagan Pride web site "Neo-Paganism - The Divine In All Creation",

"Satan is a figure from the Christian religion. The misconception comes from medieval witch-hunts, which equated the Horned God of the Old Religion with the adversary of the new, and from the sensationalism of popular media."

What will happen at Fingerlakes Pagan Pride Day 2008?

Public ritual: A public gathering where Pagans can network with each other and celebrate an Autumn Equinox ritual.

Food drive: A food drive, to share our abundant harvest with others in need, and to make a clear statement to those who have misconceptions about Paganism. We know that our ethics, based on concern for ecology, personal responsibility, and individual freedom, mean that we feel strongly called to actions of social responsibility. It is important for us to highlight our similarity to other religions in that regard.

Press releases: Press releases and media coverage of our events in order to present the truth about Paganism to our communities, refute common misconceptions, and draw political attention to Paganism in order to try to prevent legislative discrimination against Pagans.

Other possible activities: Along with these three primary activities, others have chosen to add other events and make the gathering a full festival, with merchant booths, music, book-signings, workshops, and other activities.

What is the cost of Admission?

The cost of admission is canned food items to support those in the Fingerlakes region who are in need. We also welcome voluntary monetary contributions to support the our benefactor and the community. All contributions made to Fingerlakes Pagan Pride Day will go to the Veterans Administration Outreach Program. It is proof that when the community comes together we can.